Dengue cases double this year

Manmeet Singh Gill
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, November 18

Despite a substantial drop in temperature, dengue threat continues to trouble the district where 442 cases have been reported so far. The dengue count this time is almost double of those of last year when 222 cases had surfaced. Although the number of dengue patients in the district was quite low initially, it began seeing an upward slide in the last week of October. The department had reported only around 120 cases of dengue till October 20.

Health officials stated that the disease was easily preventable if people cleaned their residences and surroundings. The sudden rise in dengue cases has left health officials worried. Officials said a close watch was being kept. The situation is expected to improve within a few days with a further dip in temperature.

District Health Officer Dr Madan Mohan said, “Despite efforts, being made to create awareness on dengue, we have detected dengue larvae breeding in refrigerators of at least two residences. People must clean their homes to prevent the disease.”

Dr Madan Mohan said that out of 442 dengue cases reported so far, a total of 105 were residents of the nearby Kapurthala district. “But as their addresses mentioned in identity proofs are of Amritsar, they would be counted as patients of the district,” he said. The health official stated that the use of mosquito repellents and other methods could save people from dengue.